Sen. Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger, former legendary running back Herschel Walker, faced off in their only debate less than a month before Election Day.
Summary
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and his Republican challenger, former legendary running back Herschel Walker, faced off in their only debate less than a month before Election Day.
- The two candidates clashed over abortion, inflation, President Joe Biden crime, and police, among other topics. Warnock never mentioned the allegations that Walker paid for an abortion in 2009, and Walker again denied the allegations when questioned by moderators.
- Warnock and Walker both held their own and stuck to their respective talking points on the campaign’s top issues and on charges of personal impropriety that have been leveled at both candidates in Georgia’s Senate election.
- Walker frequently tied his Democratic opponent to the unpopular incumbent President, while Warnock dodged repeated questions from the moderator about whether President Joe Biden should seek a second term in 2024.
- At one point, Warnock swiped at Walker for claiming her had worked with law enforcement, which prompted Walker to pull out a police badge apparently from when he was made an honorary Cobb County deputy.
- Some of The New York Times’ “standout moments” from the debate were efforts by Herschel Walker to move to the center on abortion and the 2020 election to better appeal to swing voters in the suburbs where Walker is underperforming G.O.P. Governor Brian Kemp.
- The Washington Post reported Warnock repeatedly invoked Senate Republicans he had worked with to show off his bipartisan credentials, while Walker warned voters his opponent was a “smooth-talking politician” who would try and “sweet-talk” the voters.
- CNN noted Walker “repeatedly” mentioned President Joe Biden and worked to tie his Democratic opponent to the unpopular incumbent. Walker dismissed allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election, saying, “President Biden won, and Sen. Warnock won. That’s the reason I decided to run.”
- National Review highlighted the moment when Walker called out Warnock, a self-described “pro-choice pastor” for his stances on abortion. Walker asked Warnock how he can support “Black Lives Matter” and legalized abortion considering the high abortion rate in the black community.
- The Washington Examiner noted when it came to 2024, Warnock dodged questions about whether Joe Biden should seek a second term while Walker supported a third Trump bid. Both candidates said they would accept the results of the Senate election.
- The Wall Street Journal wrote Georgia could deliver an “election-year rarity”: a “split decision” as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock currently lead in the polls for their respective races.
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© Dominic Moore, 2022
